Police Identify Victim of Stabbing

Timothy J. StenovecDetectives have continued working at the crime scene along East Seventh Street through the afternoon.

The authorities this afternoon identified the victim of a fatal stabbing on East Seventh Street even as detectives were still trying to determine a motive for the crime.

Police said that the victim, Christopher Jusko, was stabbed once in the neck about 5:30 this morning inside an apartment at 272 East Seventh Street. Mr. Jusko, who was 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said that one man was in custody in connection with the stabbing although the authorities did not release his name. Residents along East Seventh Street said that both Mr. Jusko and the man who is in custody had been acquaintances.

John Bonilla, a resident of the building where the stabbing occurred, was leaving his third-floor apartment at 6:30 for a walk, when he noticed a trail of blood coming from the second floor. He followed it down the stairs, and outside the entrance to his building he came across a body covered with blood.

“It was just like bang-bang-bang, you’re walking down the stairs and all of a sudden you see that blood,” said Mr. Bonilla. “And then I came out and found that,” he said, pointing toward the body, which was covered with a white sheet. “It was a bad scene to wake up to.”

Mr. Bonilla, 59, who is a retired post office worker and has lived in that apartment for seven years, said that he did not recognize the victim and does not think he was a resident of his building. “You know the people that you live around,” he said. He described his neighbors as “good, hard-working people.”

Apart from occasional loud music coming from the second floor, Mr. Bonilla said that there had been no problems in the tenement, which is a six-floor walkup with 24 units.

Clyde Ramos, 22, another resident along East Seventh Street, knew both the victim and the man who is in the custody of the police. “We’ve all gotten into fights,” Mr. Ramos said. “We’re a bunch of boys growing up together. But this is a wake up call. This is a young death and it’s good for nothing.”

At the time that this article was written, investigators were still trying to determine numerous details about the case. Our reporters did indeed ask the authorities about where the suspect and the victim each lived; those details would not emerge until the following hours and days. We felt that the responsible path was to present all of the information that our reporters could confirm and avoid speculation in the absence of more details.

Chris was my roomie and my sons best friend. The tears are flowing around here. He was a decent fairand honest man. He will be missed, and the circumstances of his demise are less than fitting my mans high character. You were loved brother.

We weren’t too close but I have seen him around and was cool with him for a while. He may have made some mistakes but we all do, we should RESPECT the life he had and the afterlife he will now have. Bless his soul, and god bless his family and all those close to him. Jokes and side comments are not appropriate keep them to yourself’s.

Bro I love u man ima try and keep my head up life has been hard I know ur in a better place so they say but I just wanna tell u if u can look over my shoulder and keep a close eye on me, anything is possible and I will always miss and remember u for the great times we’ve had. We’re young I shouldn’t be writing a r.I.p message right now but I am so remember me as a good friend and never forget me cuz I kno ill never forget u …….we love u upski

Chris was my friend for years, fortunately for me I got out of the Lower East Side. Chris was a good hearted person who looked out out for his friends. he had a true smile and will be missed be many…The reason why we lose peace is because we forget that we belong to each other….

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